5 Qs with Creatives: Papergirl Plants

by Nicole Willis

Cori “Coco” Holden is a Pensacola native and artist who creates realistic flora out of paper. Holden hand makes a variety of intricate paper botanicals, including everything from houseplants, cacti and mushrooms to full-size floral arrangements, blooming bouquets and more.

Her work can be found at numerous businesses throughout the downtown area. Holden currently has mushroom terrariums available for sale at Cobalt Studio on East Wright Street, and one of her camellia arrangements is also on display at Camellia Grab-n-Go on Garden Street.

Holden has attended a variety of markets throughout the city, including the Punk Rock Flea Market, Pensacola Vintage Collective events, markets at The Handlebar, Odd Colony and more. With spring and summer weather right around the corner, markets will be starting soon. Follow @papergirl_plants on Instagram for updates on Holden’s market schedule and to check out some of her latest work.

DTC: Let’s start with you telling me a little bit about yourself and your professional background.

CH: I’m a Pensacola native. Growing up in this small town, there wasn’t a lot to do, so you really had to make your own entertainment. I was either exploring outdoors or making stuff at home, crafting and doing anything DIY. Although most of my work history has been in the service industry, one of my all-time favorite jobs was working for a local florist, which really kickstarted my passion for plants and flowers. I learned so much there.

DTC: What drew you to working with paper as your medium?

CH: The art of flower-making goes all the way back to the invention of paper! It’s the perfect medium for making realistic botanicals, flowers and foliage, as the applications are limitless.

DTC: Tell me about the inspiration or influence behind your work.

CH: My love for plants is what started this whole thing in the first place. People were awestruck by the plants I cared for at home. One of the most common questions I got asked was ‘How do you keep them all alive?’ I always thought that was such a funny question, but apparently, a great majority of people struggle to care for plants. I started reading books about flower-making. I learned about different materials and explored a lot of paper options before I discovered crepe paper for my flowers and Canson paper for the houseplants. Then, I started by tracing the leaves of my houseplants, et voila! My first paper plant was made in January of 2022.

I honestly never thought that flowermaking was going to be a thing that people appreciated, as I was just making them for myself because it was fun. However, the response on my personal Instagram was positive and everyone wanted one! So, I began my side hustle of making and sharing my flowers.

DTC: Tell me a little bit about the different types of pieces you create. What are some of your most popular pieces?

CH: I make many plant varieties— begonias, orchids, philodendron, night blooming cereus, mushrooms, succulents, monstera, pitcher plants, anthuriums, pileas, peperomias, calatheas and lots and lots of crepe paper flowers, including my own wedding bouquet! My most popular pieces have definitely been the mushroom terrariums and crepe paper flowers. Everyone loves mushrooms!

DTC: Can you take me through your creative process and describe what goes into creating one of your pieces?

CH: The process is not easy! It takes a lot of patience and time. Some of my plants take me weeks to complete all the details. The cuts have to be precise, there’s folding, dying, ironing and painting. I start by studying the plant I want to make, the shapes of the leaves, how they bend and move with sunlight, what the buds look like at different growth stages, the form of the stems, etc. I want to evoke realism, so the details are important.